Stokes Collection of Florida Plant Railway Photographs

Concentrating on the Pinellas Pasco region, professional photographer C. H. Stokes found his subjects along the route of the old Orange Belt Railway. Incorporated in 1893, the Sanford & St Petersburg Railroad took over the older railway's properties, and then became part of the Plant System in 1895 accounting for the photographs being captioned "Views along" either the Sanford & St Petersburg or Plant System of Railways. Both railway companies used the photographs to promote tourism and development, projecting a rustic vision of Florida in the late 1890's.